Alvin hadn't slept all night. That was no surprise, really. As the sun began to peek over the horizon, he was still wide awake, staring at the ceiling. The sun!
He flew out of his bed, running over to Simon. "Simon? Hey! Wake up! We need to see if you can stand the sunlight, or you're gonna have to go sleep somewhere in the basement. Simon? Wake up!"
"Alvin," Simon groaned. "I just fell asleep!"
"Yeah, well, you gotta get up! I don't want one of my brothers turning into a torch. Get out of that bed before you start any fires."
"I'm not going to start a fire, Alvin. Why would -"Simon sat up in bed, and instinctively hissed and dove back under the covers. "Oh, yeah." Alvin heard him say from under the blanket. "That."
"Yeah, that." Alvin told him sarcastically. "The sun's barely up. Think of it as our last experiment today. So we can see if you can go to school, remember?
"I don't want to go to school."
"Simon, you're freaking me out again!"
"Okay, okay!" Simon peeked out from under the covers. "Sunglasses?"
Alvin handed them over. His brother got out of bed slowly, arm raised as if to ward off the sunlight, and stood in the sun's early light. "Well, not on fire yet. But I can't see all that well. Too bright."
"At least you're not burning." Alvin said cheerfully. He had sort of actually expected Simon to catch fire. "That's good."
"Yeah." Simon paused. "Do you think I can go to school like this?"
"Don't you think people will be suspicious if you don't?"
"Probably,but -" The fur on Simon's arms started to smoke. "I don't think I can care about that right now." He dove through the door, into the waiting shadows.
Alvin followed. "So I'm guessing you need to be 'sick' today."
Simon looked at him solemnly, then back to the singed fur on his arm. "Alvin, I think that this can definitely qualify as being sick."
"I guess so, huh." Alvin went and closed all the shutters. "Is this okay, now?"
His older brother peered in cautiously. "Yes, I think so." He stepped into the room, fine. "I think it's only direct sunlight that does it."
"Well, that's good, at least." Alvin said, changing into his red turtleneck. "I guess I'll go tell Dave you're sick. I hope he doesn't have a heart attack or anything."
Dave didn't have a heart attack but he did exclaim over how cold Simon was. "From what you're telling me, I'd expect a fever." Dave said. "I'll call a doctor today."
"No!" Simon said. "I just need to sleep. I'll be okay."
Dave looked at him, doubt in his eyes. "Are you sure? I can stay home today, if you want."
"No, that's okay." Simon hastily assured him, and then was overtaken by the biggest yawn he had ever given. "I'm just going to sleep. You don't need to stay here and watch me."
"Well, okay. I trust you." Dave said, looking worried. "But if you're not better by tomorrow we're going straight to the doctor."
Or the morgue. Alvin thought, then quickly dismissed it. His brother was not going to die and become one of the undead. He waited until Dave had left the room.
"Simon?" He poked his already sleeping brother. "Simon!"
"Don't poke me, Alvin!" Simon said sleepily. "I'm tired."
"I'll be back in an hour or so, I promise."
Simon's eyes cracked open slightly. "You can't skip school today, Alvin. You'll get in trouble."
OooOooO
Not as much trouble as you're in. Alvin thought, leaving the room. He barely noticed Theodore following him, or the troubled look his baby brother sent Simon's way. Not nearly as much trouble.
"He got bit again?" Jeannette could hear how worried her voice was. "Is he...okay?"
Alvin shook his head grimly. "Not really, Jeannette."
Jeannette bit her lip. "How bad is it?"
"Bad." Alvin continued. "He is definitely becoming a vampire."
"For sure?"
"Oh, yeah." Alvin continued. "His fur nearly set on fire this morning when the sun came in."
"Oh, no!" Eleanor cried.
"So what are we going to do to help him?" Jeannette demanded. The others looked at her in surprise, not used to the command in her voice. "I mean, we are going to try and help him, right?"
"Of course," Theodore said. "Right?"
Alvin shook his head again. "I'm not sure if we can help him, Theodore. According to my books, you can stake a vampire, put them in direct sunlight, or cut off their heads – that's the only way to get rid of them."
"But doesn't that always end up with the vampire, uh, dead?" Theodore asked fearfully.
"Yeah."
Jeannette put her hands on her hips angrily. "Well, we are certainly not going to kill Simon, Alvin."
"Of course we're not, Jeannette." Alvin replied. "But I don't know what to do. We have to help him. We can't let him stay a vampire. And I know I can't hurt him even if he turns evil. I can't bring myself to hurt my brothers – I already proved that once."
Theodore looked at him oddly. "You did?"
"Um," Alvin suddenly looked uncomfortable, and Jeannette sensed that he had possibly said more than he should have. "Well..."
"Last month, when I was still a werewolf, you were going to...what, kill me?"
"No! I was going to use that silver wolfs-head cane to, I don't know, bash the werewolf out of you. But I couldn't even hit you with it."
"But you did hit me with it, Alvin." Theodore pointed out.
"No, I didn't. I dropped it on you when I tripped. The point is, I couldn't hurt Simon either. So if he tries to drink my blood or something, I'm doomed, 'cause I really don't think that I could stake him through the heart or anything."
"No, I couldn't either." Theodore agreed. "He's still our brother."
"He still seemed pretty much like Simon yesterday." Eleanor offered. "So hopefully that means he'll stay himself until we figure out a way to fix him."
"You didn't see him last night." Alvin shuddered. "I don't know if he's going to want us to fix him."
No one could say anything to that. Finally Jeannette broke the silence.
"Well, we just have to assume that he will want to get fixed. So we better find a way."
"I'm skipping school today to go keep an eye on him." Alvin said. "Anyone who wants to come with me can. I'd certainly appreciate the help."
"I can't skip school!" Brittany said. "Miss Miller would kill me."
"I don't need everyone to come with, Brittany. Its only Simon's life we're talking about here." Alvin shot at her.
Brittany glared at Alvin.
"I'll go." Jeannette said quietly. Brittany looked at her in surprise.
"Jeannette! Miss Miller will-"
"I don't care. I've got to help Simon. He's my best friend."
Eleanor went and stood with Jeannette. "I'm coming, too. Simon's practically my brother."
"Eleanor!" Brittany gasped.
Theodore smiled at Eleanor. "Thanks, Eleanor." Eleanor blushed.
"You saved my life, Theodore. I owe you."
"No, I think you saved me, Eleanor." Theodore's blush matched hers.
"Come on, guys." Alvin led their little brigade to the door. Brittany watched for almost five seconds before running after them.
"Oh, no, you are not going to leave me behind!"
OooOooO
The wind rushed around him. The moon was high in the sky, and the ground was covered in dew that sparkled like diamonds. In the distance, mountains soared into the sky like prehistoric palaces. It was beautiful. He recognized none of his surroundings, but somehow felt like he was home.
Simon spun around, searching, trying to get a bearing on his location. "Hello?" he shouted into the night, "Is anyone out there?"
"Yes, I am here." Dracula said, materializing in front of his eyes. "Welcome home, child."
"Where am I?"
"A difficult question." Dracula stepped over to Simon and knelt before him in the grass. An almost kindly look on his face made Simon wonder what he was thinking. "In one sense, you are still in your bed, tucked safely away from the burning rays of the sun."
Simon wanted to back away, but Dracula's eyes held him. "I'm dreaming, then?"
"Not exactly. Your mind, your soul – it is home. This," Dracula swept a black clad arm to indicate the loveliness all around them. "is Transylvania."
"That's not my home." Simon denied, shaking his head vigorously. "I live with Dave and my brothers, in Hollywood."
"Not anymore." Dracula stroked Simon's cheek in an oddly parental gesture. "Don't worry, Simon. You will love it here. Is it not beautiful?"
"It is, but-"
"You are going to have to learn to let go of your mortal life, child. I have started the process and it cannot be undone. You will be a vampire. My eternal, beloved son."
"No, no, no. I don't want to be a vampire!" Simon was getting frantic. "Please, I just want to go home and be normal again."
Dracula sighed. "I am afraid that is impossible, my child. It is too late."
Despite himself, Simon began to cry. "I don't want this."
The older vampire took the weeping chipmunk into his arms, very like a father would to comfort his son. "Acceptance will come with time, child." Strangely, Simon felt himself accepting his comforting. For some reason, Dracula had seemed to lose some of his ability to induce fear in Simon. "It is your brothers, is it not? You have never been alone without them."
Hiccuping, Simon nodded. "Why are you doing this to me?"
There was a pause as Dracula released him. "I had three daughters once. They were taken from me before their time. I do not relish the idea of eternity alone." He looked at Simon oddly. "Perhaps, I won't have to. Perhaps I should consider three sons, instead."
Immediately Simon understood what Dracula was saying. "No! They won't want to become vampires, either!"
"No? Think on it, Simon. Do you really hate the idea of what you are so badly? The old blood calls to you now. It will not be denied." Dracula stood. "You must go now. I will come to you tonight. You will come when I call. Otherwise, you will die."
"And think on it, Simon. Are you absolutely certain you wouldn't want your brothers to join you in eternity?"
Dracula disappeared into the night. Simon sat on the ground, alone.
Utterly alone.
End of part 6
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